Podcast Episode 10 – Floods, CEO and White Balance

PodCast – Alpha Tutorials

Download the HD Version of this podcast. (Right Click Save As) or get it on iTunes

We talk Thailand floods and the impact it will have on Alpha, Sony CEO names photography person of the year and a look at what White Balance is and how to change it on your camera. This is Episode 10 of Alpha Tutorials.

News

If you check in on any of the tech or photography sites out there you will know by now that the recent floods have had a significant impact on technology companies like Sony, Nikon and others who have production facilities there. Following the earthquake and tsunami earlier this year in Japan, many companies increased, moved or shifted production of their products to neighbouring countries like Thailand. For the companies that have done this its been a double whammy as – in the case of Sony and Nikon – their factories are sitting at least one floor under water. In Sony’s case their sensor production is based in their Thailand operations which has not only meant delays for the Alpha A77, A65 and (to my complete horror) the NEX-7 but it is also impacting other companies that make use of Sony sensors in their cameras. While Nikon announced that water levels where dropping last week, they are still way above ankle height so its going to be a while before we know when things will be back on track. Not a good hear for the photographic industry.

Also in the news, Sony CEO, Sir Howard Stringer was recently names Person of the Year by PMDA – PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association. For the full story head on over to PMAnewsline.com or follow the link in our show notes.

Tutorial

Lets look at White Balance

White Balance and Colour of Light
Believe it or not, all light has a colour to it. Perhaps you have noticed it though never consciously thought of its impact on your photographs? Well, truth is, it makes a difference to your pictures. I am not going to give you a physics lesson here. Let it suffice to say that Daylight is white light and has a colour measurement of 5000-6000K (Kelvin). Light that we would call warm in colour is in fact cooler in Kelvin so like a Candle light measures only 1000-2000K. An overcast day which can give a bit of a blue light (same as being in the shade) will measure anywhere from 6500-10000K. That’s enough science. Lets get practical.

Warm lights (in terms of colour) are Candle Light, Tungsten light bulbs found in many homes and Sunsets. Your camera has a white balance setting which allows you to say you are shooting by for example: Tungsten light and the camera will then add blue to balance the orange. The opposite is true when you set the white balance to clouds. There is also a creative use for white balance. If you want a blue sky to be bluer then set the white balance on the camera to Tungsten which adds blue to scenes. Ever taken a picture of a bright red sunset but you just not getting the red? Set the white balance to cloudy which will add some red or orange.

Other light sources with odd colours are Fluorescent lights which tend to have a greenishness to them.

Viewers Question

In the comments on YouTube for Episode 8 frank392 ask

how to use a? a35 fo studio work? is it possible?

To be honest, we have not found a way on our A35 review unit to bypass the live view exposure display given which – in a studio environment with limited ambient light renders the viefinder almost completely dark and useless. We have heard that unlike the A33 and A55 where nothing can be done about it, the A35 is supposed to get a way to bypass this problem like the A65 and A77 have however we have yet to here more about this solution, we will keep you posted on any progress.

Conclusion

That about brings us to the end of another show. Be sure to check out our website http://alphatutorials.co.za for more articles and information. For example there are three articles following our first show each on one of the areas of exposure, ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speeds. You can also send your questions in to us on the the site.

The post Podcast Episode 10 – Floods, CEO and White Balance appeared first on Alpha Tutorials.